EM Office of River Protection contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) has earned state and local accolades for its commitment to support veterans.
Office of Environmental Management
December 5, 2023
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RICHLAND, Wash. — EM Office of River Protection contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) has earned state and local accolades for its commitment to support veterans.
The Public Employer of the Year award, presented by the Washington Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment, commended WRPS for its initiatives in recruiting, hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. About 10% of WRPS employees self-report having a disability. The recognition aligns with the company’s broader inclusive strategy, which was recognized in July with a diversity award from the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“We have an important mission to clean up the Hanford Site, and we can provide our workforce with all the tools they need to be successful,” said Pamela Zimmerman, Office of River Protection and Richland Operations Office chief of staff. “When an employee has a resource that can help them succeed, we should accommodate those resources when it’s safe to do so.”
Service dog Mayday supports nuclear chemical operator Jeff Madsen on the Hanford Site. EM and its contractors make on-the-job accommodations when it is safe to do so, including allowing fully trained service dogs, to attract and support veterans and employees with disabilities.
The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce presented contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) with a corporate diversity award at the Tri-Cities Diversity Summit in July. Representing WRPS, from left: Jerry Kurtz, Haydee Ramirez, Lisa Bunch, Sylvia Valdez, Celene Chambers, Buddy Cunningham, Amy Hayfield and Jennifer Downing. They are pictured with Jim Arneson, far right, president of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Hanford nuclear chemical operator Jeff Madsen is a U.S. Army veteran with a combat-related disability. Accommodations allow Madsen to bring his fully trained service dog, Mayday, to work, enhancing his ability to manage his disability.
“No one had tried it before, so I wasn’t sure if I could bring her to work with me,” said Madsen. “WRPS Workforce Resources worked to obtain approval for me to bring Mayday on the Hanford Site because she is a trained service dog through Service Peace Warriors. Everyone has been accepting and supportive and I’m super grateful. My personal and professional life are better because of what she does for me.”
Nearly 14% of workers have served in the armed forces. By actively seeking out and supporting veterans, WRPS addresses the unique challenges faced by those transitioning from military to civilian roles.
“Any employer can hire and train military service members, but WRPS actively recruits service members because their soft and hard skills translate to success in this environment,” said Wes Bryan, WRPS president and project manager. “That also gives us the opportunity to overcome some of the challenges service members face while transitioning to the civilian workforce in light of what they faced while making us safer.”
-Contributor: Jenna Kochenauer
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